Dear Marissa

"Dear Marissa" is my apology to Marissa Alexander, a black woman who was sentenced in Florida to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot at her abusive husband. Her retrial starts in July, and incredibly, she is now facing 60 years in prison. Prosecutor Angela Corey announced she is seeking the maximum sentence of 20 years for 3 counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Please contribute to Marissa Alexander's legal defense fund by going to Marissa Alexander Freedom Fundraiser. The lyrics to "Dear Marissa" are below.

Dear Marrissa can you please forgive usFor not hearing your cries or the cries of your sistersWe ignored you for months after your verdict was deliveredYour burden wasn't considered but your courage never witheredLeft deserted in a prison given 20 live yearsAnd a orange jumpsuit that's faded from dry tearsA hard bed in a cell our innocence lies hereA mother ripped from her children's the only crime that's clearWhy are we so quiet why are we so silentWhy did we wash our hands of it why are Pontius PilateWhy are we so slow to respond to domestic violenceWhen women are abused we're always given an excuseBut tell me what would you do if you felt you children were threatenedAnd the man who beat you violated order of protectionAnd you had access to a legal and licensed weaponAnd you feared for your life and the lives if your adolescentsDear Marrissa I'm sorry i feel responsible partlymy voice was hardy a whisper how could we just forget yacan you please forgive us for not hearing your cries or the cries of your sisters

signedMr. Jasiri X

This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.

Dear Marissa

"Dear Marissa" is my apology to Marissa Alexander, a black woman who was sentenced in Florida to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot at her abusive husband. Her retrial starts in July, and incredibly, she is now facing 60 years in prison. Prosecutor Angela Corey announced she is seeking the maximum sentence of 20 years for 3 counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Please contribute to Marissa Alexander's legal defense fund by going to Marissa Alexander Freedom Fundraiser. The lyrics to "Dear Marissa" are below.

Dear Marrissa can you please forgive usFor not hearing your cries or the cries of your sistersWe ignored you for months after your verdict was deliveredYour burden wasn't considered but your courage never witheredLeft deserted in a prison given 20 live yearsAnd a orange jumpsuit that's faded from dry tearsA hard bed in a cell our innocence lies hereA mother ripped from her children's the only crime that's clearWhy are we so quiet why are we so silentWhy did we wash our hands of it why are Pontius PilateWhy are we so slow to respond to domestic violenceWhen women are abused we're always given an excuseBut tell me what would you do if you felt you children were threatenedAnd the man who beat you violated order of protectionAnd you had access to a legal and licensed weaponAnd you feared for your life and the lives if your adolescentsDear Marrissa I'm sorry i feel responsible partlymy voice was hardy a whisper how could we just forget yacan you please forgive us for not hearing your cries or the cries of your sisters

signedMr. Jasiri X

This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license. It may not be reproduced in any form without permission or license from the source.